June 12, 2006

Prefers not to wear a helmet? Terry Bradshaw admonishes him for potentially damaging his career? Does he not recognize his responsibility to his team and the city of Pittsburgh? I am not a Steelers fan - but I am a fan of loyalty, responsibility and respect: three qualities Big Ben apparently has forgotten (assuming he knew them to begin with). I'm glad to hear he's conscious and feel for Steelers fans everywhere.

posted by MW12 at 11:58 AM on June 12, 2006

Riding a motorcycle without a helmet? I am not a Steelers fan - but I am a fan of intelligence: a quality that Big Ben apparently has forgotten (assuming he had it to begin with). I'm pretty sure that trumps anything involving Ben's relationship with the Steelers or their fans.

posted by grum@work at 12:03 PM on June 12, 2006

Um, dumbass wasn't wearing a helmet on a motorcycle? And yet he wears one when he plays football? Methinks Big Ben is a bit of a moron. I would be very, very surprised if he hasn't violated his contract with the Steelers by taking such a huge risk and then exacerbating it by not wearing protective gear. That's just mind bogglingly stupid. Jerseygirl, there are numerous states that do not have mandatory helmet laws. It freaks me out to see guys get to a stateline, stop and remove thier protective gear and then keep on riding down the highway at 80 miles an hour. And I'm a long, long time biker. I won't ride without my helmet, gloves and Aerostich suit.

posted by fenriq at 12:06 PM on June 12, 2006

Do NFL contracts not have standard no motorcycle riding clauses? Or do the players just flout them? It seems that if the teams enforced these clauses (and I think the Browns did -- or at least tried to -- cut back some of Kellen Winslow's bonus after his crotch rocket accident), players would engage in less inherently dangerous behavior. Loyalty, responsiblity, etc. are all good concepts (even if I would question whether or to what extent a player has a responsibility to a city), but money talks and if there were more economic consequences to this, there would be less of it.

posted by holden at 12:07 PM on June 12, 2006

I remember a few years ago when Jeff Kent was still a Giant and he broke his wrist before spring training on his motorcycle (something his contract expressly forbade), he got a good fine and pretty well wore out his welcome in San Francisco. And his lying about how it happened didn't help at all. Now I cheer every strike out that guy has. But I like Big Ben, this was just an example of youthful idiocy and I'm glad he's not more seriously hurt. I hope he learns his lesson. Now Schwarznegger's accident in LA a few months ago is a whole other story. That meathead didn't even have a motorcycle license.

posted by fenriq at 12:14 PM on June 12, 2006

Idiot. Um, did i cover everything that needed to be said here?

posted by tommybiden at 01:07 PM on June 12, 2006

From the link, it seems Ben had the right of way, but some yutz turned in front of him. Kinda made me think of what my dad said when i was considering a bike in my younger days. " It doesn't matter how right you are, they'll still be picking up bits of you with a shovel while the other fellow walks away." Oh yeah, bought a mustang instead.

posted by tommybiden at 01:20 PM on June 12, 2006

The original story is updating throughout the day if anyone wants to go back and check it out.

posted by dbt302 at 01:32 PM on June 12, 2006

I'm surprised he doesn't have some kind of clause that prohibits riding without a helmet, considering how much risk it transfers to the Steelers. I've seen interviews with Ewan McGregor where he's said that while he's filming movies, he's banned from riding his bike entirely.

posted by Smackfu at 01:58 PM on June 12, 2006

I can't find any back up, but I think I remember seeing on TV last year that he was prohibited by contract clause from riding during the season, but not the offseason. (I don't know where pre-season fits in, if that is in fact true).

posted by rainbaby at 02:17 PM on June 12, 2006

What is the difference between riding a motorcycle with or without a helmet? A closed casket! Just listened to the program Director from WPBG the Steelers Flagship station. Ben underwent surgery.... They didn't say what for... broken jaw, lacerations, several missing teeth, lots of swelling, they wouldn't know much else as far as a head injury for a few days when the swelling goes down. As a further aside the car that hit him had Maine Plates! (New England Conspiracy perhaps) Just saying............

posted by skydivedad at 02:38 PM on June 12, 2006

As a further aside the car that hit him had Maine Plates! (New England Conspiracy perhaps) Just saying............ Eeeeeh, not a real good time for jokes, skydivedad.

posted by jerseygirl at 02:40 PM on June 12, 2006

The different stories have him at severe but stable with a broken jaw, all the way to "sort of not okay" in the instance xmutex mentioned. Hope this guy makes it.

posted by jerseygirl at 02:44 PM on June 12, 2006

I only mentioned that because the Program Director of WPBG did.......... He also mentioned that person is hopefully getting some Police Protection. I swear thats what was said..... I can see two reasons why the Program Director of WPBG would have made those statements: 1)because it was a hit-and-run (and I imagine the state of the license plate is probably the best witness info they were able to get), and 2)to let us all know that he, the Program Director of WPBG, has a big manly pair of genitals. I can't think of any other reason for making faceless third-party threats.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 02:55 PM on June 12, 2006

Many well-paid professional athletes have contractual restrictions that prohibit them from behaviors that their employers consider risky. Like Aaron Boone and that ill fated basketball game? I think that voided his contract with the Yanks.

posted by HATER 187 at 02:58 PM on June 12, 2006

lbb I believe he made the comment out of concern for that persons safety in the Pittsburg Community not as a threat. Similar to what Bartman went through in Chicago a few years ago with the over zealos Cubbie fans.

posted by skydivedad at 03:04 PM on June 12, 2006

I believe he made the comment out of concern for that persons safety in the Pittsburg Community not as a threat. I didn't hear him; possibly you're right. Still sounds like posturing and bombast to me. This is a football player we're talking about, not John F. Kennedy, and the driver put him in the hospital, not in the morgue; does Program Director really think that people in Pittsburgh are stupid enough to risk a lengthy jail term to attack him/her? Well, whatever. My guess, though, is that Program Director just wants everyone to get the point that Pittsburgh fans are hardcore, man.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:26 PM on June 12, 2006

This seems like rumor now. Steve Bartman? Hit and run? They took the guy and the car from the scene of the accident. There was no run. The public is calling for the other driver's head?

posted by jerseygirl at 03:29 PM on June 12, 2006

LBB. I think the program director mentioned it because......ok, call me crazy, but because it was....wait for it.....FACT! He was trying to provide information. Or, maybe, he is trying to incite something. He might not be the brightest bulb in the socket, in fact maybe HE rides his bike without a helmet and has suffered from the concequences of that himself.

posted by tommybiden at 03:47 PM on June 12, 2006

Daily donorcycle rider here. When I was Ben's age, I rode in jeans, t-shirt and a crappy helmet. Now I get jokes about wearing my "snowmobile suit" in the middle of summer. It's just too bad that someone got him (at-fault left-turning car makes up a huge percentage of car-motorcycle collisions) before he had a chance to wisen up. I hope he heals well and recovers completely.

posted by dusted at 03:49 PM on June 12, 2006

From the FPP.... actually the Maine Plates aren't rumor ........ Understood. That's in a link. No one said that was a rumor. The program director, however, may or may not be a putz. That's inference though. Not in links anywhere and also conjecture and rumor: - That there's a public outcry for an organized kickball game using the Maine Plate Driver's head at 7pm this evening. - Hit and run

posted by jerseygirl at 03:56 PM on June 12, 2006

There was a driver on the grassy knoll And a preemptive 'it's always time for jokes.'

posted by mick at 03:58 PM on June 12, 2006

Completely off topic, but yeah.....mmmmmmm....lobsters!

posted by tommybiden at 04:09 PM on June 12, 2006

New Hampshire is a state that has neither a mandatory helemt law nor mandatory seatbelt laws. I personally choose to ride inside my car with a seatbelt. I have always felt, however, that if the other guy (ben, in this case) wants to ride around at 80 mph with his head three feet from the asphalt then I guess its his head.

posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:24 PM on June 12, 2006

I'm watching the Pittsburgh news right now. It was NOT a hit and run. There has been no signs of anyone wanting the head of the lady (62 and from Pittsburgh)who was driving the car. Ben has a 9 inch gash to the back of his head, a cut over his right eye, he has a broken left sinus cavity, severe knee injuries, and a broken jaw. Needless to say, nothing else has been mentioned about any other news in the area. No word as to if he is still in surgery or not. Ben was riding a 1995 Suzuki Hayabusa. Top speed of 194 MPH.

posted by dbt302 at 04:41 PM on June 12, 2006

Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Tribune just reported that there is no clause in Ben's contract that will protect the Steelers from the obvious financial losses they have just incurred. They have to honor his contract according to Mariotti's report.

posted by sublime4390116 at 04:49 PM on June 12, 2006

On preview: He doesn't have "motorcycle" specifically, but all NFL players have "the clause" that protects teams from off-the-field injuried resulting from stupidity. The Steelers could demand he pay back their money, but seeing as he just helped them win a Super Bowl, i really doubt they would. But that all depends on the severity of the injuries. Now back to the regularly scheduled program... Looooong battle to get the helmet law repealed. Every year for as long as i remember, the motorcycle lobby would push a bill to repeal the helmet law. They finally got it through and repealed it two or three years ago. Methinks that might be revisited. The folks that want the helmet law back on the books weren't that far from getting it. I think the hit-and-run rumor can be credited to John Clayton on ESPNnews. His report that ran most of the early afternoon said they were looking for the car with Maine plates that left the scene. I think he misuderstood, because most other reports said the driver of a car with Maine plates left the scene with police. He must have missed that part. And, finally, if he lost his teeth, he'll fit right in in Pittsburgh.

posted by SummersEve at 04:58 PM on June 12, 2006

Description of the accident about halfway down in this Post Gazette story.

posted by SummersEve at 05:12 PM on June 12, 2006

Don't look for big Ben on opening day; hopefully he'll be back some time this season. This could cost Ben a fortune literally. $20M contract extension and up to $10M/year in endorsements. On the bright side, maybe there's a Bell Helmets deal out there... He could also do razor blade ad's. You know, "Hi I'm Big Ben and I used to use Brand X razor blades, but just look what they did to my face!. Now I only use Gillette!"

posted by commander cody at 05:16 PM on June 12, 2006

he would probally not continue a play if his helmet fell off during a game but on a motarcylcle there of cource id no danger

posted by Barry-from-H-town at 05:27 PM on June 12, 2006

Jeff Kent. Kellen Winslow. Jason (Jay) Williams. And now Big Ben. YOu would really think that by this point in time a) young atheletes would realize that it is foolish of them to go riding around on motorcycles and b) that all professional teams would have clauses in their contract deals that would not allow players to ride motorcycles (or at least prevent them from doing so without a helmet on).

posted by NightingalesGone at 05:29 PM on June 12, 2006

I wish people would stop blaming the biker for riding a bike! I have been riding for 20 yrs (with a helmet) and every season at least one person,"usually an elderly person" causes me to avoid some kind of dangerous incident. I have been lucky.

posted by bo_fan at 05:34 PM on June 12, 2006

New Hampshire is a state that has neither a mandatory helemt law nor mandatory seatbelt laws. And we sell fireworks. And the state's in the liquor business. You thought the bottom of the license plate was just a clever motto. At the state line Maine presents half mile of signs about what you're no longer legally allowed to do.

posted by yerfatma at 05:46 PM on June 12, 2006

And, finally, if he lost his teeth, he'll fit right in in Pittssburgh. I think you might be confusing Pittsburgh with some country hick town. There are lots of beautifull people in Pittsburgh and most of them have lots of teeth. As for Ben, being a Steeler fan I am very concerned for Ben's health but being a commpasionate person I am even more concerned regarding the quality of his life after the extent of these head injuries reveal them selves. Football is very entertaining but it is not everything. God speed to your recovery Big Ben!

posted by PGHTOS at 05:49 PM on June 12, 2006

I've seen interviews with Ewan McGregor where he's said that while he's filming movies, he's banned from riding his bike entirely. Yeah, he was on Top Gear and said that he was recently filming on the Isle of Man, and forbidden from riding a bike by his contract. Which sounds like purgatory for a bike nut. Every year for as long as i remember, the motorcycle lobby would push a bill to repeal the helmet law. Is it made up of Harley owners who generally wear mixing bowls on their heads? Because I can't imagine motorcycle organisations in countries where sports bikes dominate advocating for this. What a fucking idiot.

posted by etagloh at 06:06 PM on June 12, 2006

Seriously... The same way that one could expect Ben not to start eating doughnuts and drinking beer three meals a day, you can also expect him not to take any unecessary risks, including riding a motorcycle... especially without a helmet. Eating doughnuts (mmmm....doughnuts) and drinking beer three meals a day is risky?

posted by commander cody at 06:35 PM on June 12, 2006

What a load......

posted by chrisly13 at 06:45 PM on June 12, 2006

In PA the push for the repealing of the helmet law was led by ABATE of Pennsylvania... To answer your question, etagloh: Yes. As the Post Gazette tells us: "If it's a nice day like this and you want to go downtown and buy a pack of cigarettes, you'd just like to be able to leave it off," said George, of Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County. and... Among those in favor of repealing the law was Minority Whip Mike Veon, D-Beaver Falls, a motorcycle enthusiast who said he often stops after crossing into Ohio, where helmets are not mandatory, to take his helmet off.

posted by SummersEve at 06:55 PM on June 12, 2006

Commander, Sounds like you need to have some dinner. How about meeting at the Red Lobster? You buy the beer. If you're going to buy the after-dinner scotch shots, I'm there Termite.

posted by commander cody at 07:14 PM on June 12, 2006

For the life of me, I don't know what that means! Does it mean a) You can wear a helmet, and b) If you don't wear a helmet, you're not breaking a law? Possibly they left the law on the books, but just removed the penalty clause. I can't think of what else this "optional" bizniz would mean, apart from simply repealing it.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:20 PM on June 12, 2006

you can get on a motorcycle and not have a seat belt OR a helmet Good idea , a seat belt on a motorcycle. As it goes flipping down the road you can go for the ride with it, and have the weight of the bike behind you when ya hit your head. Has to be the dumbist fucking thing I have ever read on here. I can't beleave that with the exception of PGHTOS, the only thing anyone is worried about is how this will impact the football season for the Steelers. As a Packer fan, a motorcycle rider and a human being my first and only concern is his full recovery. He could have been standing on the corner and gotten hit by a motorcycle, he would not have a helmet on for that. If getting hurt in a motorcycle reck was his fate that is what was going to happen. A fall in the shower could cause as much damage to his skull as anything. Maby he should not be allowed to shower. If he stopped showering and with the lost teeth he could play for the Bears and fit in with the Bears fans.

posted by CB900 at 07:39 PM on June 12, 2006

I agree that people should wear a helmet and seatbelts, but it grates against my libertarian nerves to have a law that says so. It just plain ain't the governments business to make laws to protect people from themselves. But it is the government's business to make laws to protect those that can't protect themselves (children), or make laws that protect those from dangerous people (other people in the car). A fall in the shower could cause as much damage to his skull as anything. Maby he should not be allowed to shower. If he stopped showering and with the lost teeth he could play for the Bears and fit in with the Bears fans. That is a wonderfully, insultingly stupid slippery slope argument you've made there.

posted by grum@work at 07:45 PM on June 12, 2006

But it is the government's business to make laws to protect those that can't protect themselves (children), or make laws that protect those from dangerous people (other people in the car). Oh absolutely, children wearing helmets and seatbelts should be the law of the land, but adults should have the right to decide for themselves. After all, it's their ass on the line and they're the ones who'll suffer the most, so the government has no business in it.

posted by commander cody at 08:06 PM on June 12, 2006

After all, it's their ass on the line and they're the ones who'll suffer the most, so the government has no business in it. I'm sure PED users feel the same way.

posted by forrestv at 08:20 PM on June 12, 2006

People who ride without helmets should forfeit their medical insurance for any head injuries suffered. That would be a true personal responsibility position. And no government picking up the insurance pieces either.

posted by rumple at 08:28 PM on June 12, 2006

Really, I have no problem leaving this up to personal choice. I mean, with too many safety regulations in place already, we're meddling dangerously with natural selection. This is a lot of passion for any activitiy that goes on all the time. Ben's just not so smart seeing as though he's putting the potential future millions he could earn on the line just so he can have a little wind in his hair.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:33 PM on June 12, 2006

Mr. Bo Fan, NO one is blaming the rider, they're blaming the non-helmet wearing millionaire that plays in front of zillions of people, including kids. What a guy! He's a real hero! Ass. (But riding must just be a real rush if it's worth your life for just one ride!)

posted by sportsmomma at 08:45 PM on June 12, 2006

However to clear up the helmet laws...you can do whatever the law allows, but riding a motorcycle without a helmet is like having unprotected sex- in Haiti! Racism, xenophobia, and sexism. The retard trifecta. PANTHEON to the white courtesy BANHAMMER please.

posted by lilnemo at 08:48 PM on June 12, 2006

i hope the motorcycle is ok, go browns

posted by devildog37 at 09:06 PM on June 12, 2006

Racism, xenophobia, and sexism. The retard trifecta. Xenophobia, maybe. Racism and sexism? That's a big time reach. Are you really advocating that the site start banning people because you perceive a racist agenda subsumed in their comments? Although it wasn't the most well-thought-out post, I believe Urall's reference was to the astronomical AIDS infection rates in Haiti, with totals comparable to the United States(!). Click here for the details, if you want them. I perused Urall's other comments and found no evidence of bigotry or troll-ism. In addition, calling someone a "retard" for making a comment you don't like is grossly insensitive to the developmentally disabled -- if you really want to walk the politically correct line, lilnemo.

posted by Venicemenace at 09:11 PM on June 12, 2006

Thank you lbb, now I can stop itching.

posted by CB900 at 09:14 PM on June 12, 2006

LBB: According to websters dictionary....RASH..(noun) a large number of instances in a short period, as in ....."a rash of complaints about lilnemo's postings." So, i supose one could get a rash of shit from bears fans.

posted by tommybiden at 09:24 PM on June 12, 2006

Oh absolutely, children wearing helmets and seatbelts should be the law of the land, but adults should have the right to decide for themselves. If there is a car crash and an adult is not wearing a seatbelt, he immediately becomes a danger to everyone else in the vehicle if he becomes airborne. Someone in the back seat being propelled forward/sideways into another passenger is going to cause some serious injuries. That's why mandatory seatbelt laws help not just those who are forced to follow them. People who ride without helmets should forfeit their medical insurance for any head injuries suffered. Sadly, many Americans don't have health insurance, so they wouldn't notice the difference. However, I do agree that some level of culpability towards the injuries should be assessed in determining insurance payouts. Has anyone stopped to think that if he chose to wear a helmet, he might choose to wear an open-face helmet? His face still could get messed up. That's very true. But I'll bet big money that 9 out of 10 head injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents could be avoided/reduced by wearing a helmet. OR, the car could have run a red light and hit him at 60mph? I'm not sure what that has to do with the discussion at hand. Why not mention that a safe with a big dollar sign painted on the side could have fallen from the sky and landed on his head? It's just as relevant to the story. Riding is taking a risk everytime you go out. Same as driving a car (but without a steel cage around you!) So you are saying it's the same, except with a big difference? That's why contracts state "no motorcycles" but don't state "no cars". The safety of the vehicle enclosure is what makes cars much safer than motorcycles. It's not the same risk at all. I understand that when I ride, I have friends who understand that when they ride, and I am sure that Ben understood that when he went out riding. No matter how much protection you wear, you can still die. But you reduce the chances of dying if you wear more protection, and that's the point being discussed. He chose not to wear the suggested protection, and now he's paying the price.

posted by grum@work at 09:31 PM on June 12, 2006

Lilnemo, in truth I'm almost impossible to offend....unless someone insults BIG PAPI. Just playing devil's advocate (or in this case, urall cloolis' advocate). Understood. And a good case made. :)

posted by lilnemo at 09:36 PM on June 12, 2006

I should wear a helmet for reading all these brilliant posts. D-D-D

posted by chrisly13 at 10:15 PM on June 12, 2006

What a way to savor a Super Bowl Championship. This is stupid and also a shame. Big Ben should have been thinking about his safety and his future. Let us not forget his responsibility to his teammates and fans. AFC North will be different now. Baltimore now has a quarterback. The Ohio teams are improved too. This was the last thing Pittsburgh needed to have happen. Speedy recovery Big Ben!

posted by bal66708300 at 11:06 PM on June 12, 2006

I don't disagree with anything you said fen, I don't understand the reason for building a bike to go that fast. what is the point??? I was just pissed at the comment tommytrump made, as if he had this coming.

posted by CB900 at 11:33 PM on June 12, 2006

CB900, nobody has "it" coming to them when they get hit by a car, Ben got unlucky and wasn't prepared for it. As for the speed bike, I don't know, there are some stretches of road I wouldn't mind winding a really fast bike up on. Not that I'd do it now, I've got kids! And I traded my sportbike for a V-Strom! And even that doesn't get used too much these days with a newborn and a big hound that needs alot of exercising!

posted by fenriq at 12:09 AM on June 13, 2006

It'd be awesome if one of the posters here from the head trauma ward could live-blog Ben's recovery. Fight amongst yourselves. With the safety scissors.

posted by yerfatma at 06:21 AM on June 13, 2006

Yes, I'm sure Mike Holmgren is kicking it high style right now, getting wasted on Cuervo to celebrate an injury to a player. Ass.

posted by rocketman at 06:50 AM on June 13, 2006

Good idea , a seat belt on a motorcycle. As it goes flipping down the road you can go for the ride with it, and have the weight of the bike behind you when ya hit your head. Has to be the dumbist fucking thing I have ever read on here. I was only saying there's obviously no way of wearing a seatbelt on a motorcycle, fucking take everything so fucking literally moron. Use your stupid brain, asswhipe. I meant the comment for individuals with a bit of common sense, of which you're not one obviously.

posted by dyams at 07:28 AM on June 13, 2006

Well, this thread has certainly brought out the best in SpoFites great and small...two of the stupidest comments I've seen to date, right here in this little thread. Also, it's "wreck," not "reck," Einstein. If you can't be bothered to sober up before you post, then maybe you should head back to the Yahoo! short bus chatroom.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:13 AM on June 13, 2006

Bottom line, motorcycles are dangerous. You can't say they're not. Yes, they certainly are. Why, just the other day, a motorcycle jumped out from behind a tree and bit me! Dangerous things, ought to be locked up. Motorcycles aren't dangerous, but riding a motorcycle is riskier than driving in a car, and it's not a stretch to say that it's a riskier activity than some people ought to be doing. I'm not saying that Big Ben is one of these people, but riding safely requires a pretty good commitment to developing and maintaining riding skills. Even once that skill is developed, riding safely requires an ongoing commitment that is unlike that required for driving a car safely: a biker's safety is much more influenced by the condition of his/her vehicle, and his/her ability to survive an accident or minimize injury is strongly affected by what he/she wears. The consequences of being a dilettante are much more severe where a motorcycle is concerned. When you ride without a helmet, what does that say? That you hate helmets? That you love the wind in your hair? That you live free or die? Sure, it says all that, but it also says, "I'm not going to get in an accident," or alternately, "I'm not willing to think about consequences." Take your pick.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:29 AM on June 13, 2006

The morning update on Ben. http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_164090545.html

posted by dbt302 at 08:38 AM on June 13, 2006

I have been riding for over thirty years and I can tell you this, most bike recks happen because the person in the car has his head up his/her ass. If people would hang up there fucking phones and watch what the fuck they are doing it would be a safer world for all of us.. Not wearing a helmet should not make a biker the target of every asshole with a set of car keys. posted by CB900 at 9:51 PM CDT on June 12 cb900, well put. i second that emotion.:))

posted by ptluigi at 09:33 AM on June 13, 2006

If people would hang up there fucking phones and watch what the fuck they are doing it would be a safer world for all of us.. Not wearing a helmet should not make a biker the target of every asshole with a set of car keys. It goes both ways. If some bike riders would not zip in between traffic at 90 mph showboating, if they wouldn't split lanes to avoid traffic backups, if they'd ride responsibly themselves, they'd be doing themselves and people in vehicles a service. I've seen plenty of motorcyclists acting like complete assholes on the road and its astonishing. They're already at a disadvantage and they're endangering themselves further, not to mention everyone else on the road. Yes, car drivers are terrible at times and I don't doubt they are at fault in bike/car accidents at times, too. But it can and does go both ways. I fucking hate cell phone people, too. The other aspect of this is, the helmet protects the bike rider from falls, injury etc. You know what else it protects you from? Shit on the road. I flinch when a rock spits up at me on the highway, and I've got a pane of glass between the rock and my head.

posted by jerseygirl at 09:40 AM on June 13, 2006

I'm just glad he's alright. When he gets out of the hospital, he'll have a lot of 'splaining to do, but that's not for right now.

posted by chicobangs at 10:53 AM on June 13, 2006

I want to make something clear. I never said that Ben had this coming, just that he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and that he used very poor judgement in not protecting himself. I never said he broke a law. There's no law in Ontario that says i can't build a patio deck in my bare feet on my own property, but i would NOT even think about doing something like that without safety shoes, and eye protection for when i'm cutting the boards. It's JUST COMMON SENSE. I would just take advantage of the protective equipment available to me.

posted by tommybiden at 11:15 AM on June 13, 2006

From all the news reports I'm hearing his face took most of the damage. You don't need a face to play football, do you?

posted by HATER 187 at 12:16 PM on June 13, 2006

just to verify, there were no grammar or spelling mistakes in that post. i guess some people skipped there reading classes. enough said.

posted by ptluigi at 12:32 PM on June 13, 2006

jerseygirl: It goes both ways. If some bike riders would not zip in between traffic at 90 mph showboating, if they wouldn't split lanes to avoid traffic backups, if they'd ride responsibly themselves, they'd be doing themselves and people in vehicles a service. Everything you said is accurate except for the lane splitting. Multiple scientific studies have shown that lane splitting is about twice as safe as moving with traffic (see below). It's been legal in California for years and several states are considering legalizing it. ...A study conducted four years ago by a University of Southern California researcher supports that claim. The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation, concluded that lane splitting is safer than sitting in stop-and-go traffic, where bikers are far more likely to be "sandwiched'' between two cars. "For a motorcyclist, that's the safest place to be," Professor Harry Hurt said shortly after releasing his study. "A lot of people think it's a hazard, but the cold, hard facts are that it's not.'' Source: SF Gate, October 2000 And: Is lane-splitting on the tollways safe? Yes. The 1981 Hurt Study on motorcycle accident causation factors, recognized by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for many years as the premier scientific study on motorcycle safety, has documented evidence that motorcycles traveling between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane-splitting) on multiple-lane roads reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic. Responsible lane-splitting for motorcyclists is legally acceptable in many countries and is encouraged to reduce traffic congestion and to realize safety benefits. More recent research on the benefits of lane-splitting is available from numerous sources, including the 1996 ISO/DIS 13232 document and the 2000 National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. ISO/DIS 13232 is particularly interesting as it was developed as the global standard to guide passive safety research on motorcycle-automobile impacts. The standard is based on a survey of 501 motorcycle accidents in the USA (Los Angeles) and Germany (Hanover).From the survey, 25 impact configurations were defined depending on the impact point on the car, the impact point on the motorcycle, and the impact angle. The relative frequency of those impact configurations that could be associated with lane-splitting behavior (5 configurations) is approximately 6% in total. On the other hand, the relative frequency of impact configurations that could be associated with staying within the lane (2 configurations: motorcycle rear-ending the automobile at zero degree impact angle and automobile rear-ending the motorcycle at zero degree impact angle) is approximately 12% or double the accident frequency that could be associated with lane-splitting behavior. Source: Freedom Riders Club

posted by dusted at 01:00 PM on June 13, 2006

Riding without a helmet is acceptabley dangerous to Ben, that doesn't make him an idiot. I've got to think that as he lies there today, with his jaw wired shut, his nose busted, face all swollen, a giant laceration on back of his head, and many of his teeth either gone or ruined, he probably considers HIMSELF an idiot.

posted by dyams at 01:04 PM on June 13, 2006

it's the dump truck that's losing its load that is at fault, not the motorcyclist. Mix it up a bit. Say a lumber truck loses it's logs and one goes through the windshield of your Honda. Is it your fault that you weren't driving an SUV that would have placed you up and out of danger? An SUV isn't going to come out of that unscathed either. That's an extreme and different animal than what I am speaking to.

posted by jerseygirl at 01:17 PM on June 13, 2006

Edit: In some cases, insurance rates are regulated by the states, so the accidents effect premiums less and taxes more. Same difference.

posted by BullpenPro at 01:25 PM on June 13, 2006

Jerseygirl (and I'm not picking on you) - in your second example, it's the dump truck that's losing its load that is at fault, not the motorcyclist. That's true, but... Mix it up a bit. Say a lumber truck loses it's logs and one goes through the windshield of your Honda. Is it your fault that you weren't driving an SUV that would have placed you up and out of danger? Tell me this, dusted: how many times have you seen gravel blow off a dump truck? Now, how many times have you seen a logging truck lose its logs? A lot of things can happen on the road, but some of them are a lot more likely than others. Knowing your environment is part of what makes a driver, rider, bicyclist, hiker, or whatever capable of making informed and intelligent decisions about risk. I see a lot of bikers out my way who clearly don't really understand much about rural areas. They love to ride in packs with some of them riding the center line or drifting over; think of what will happen if they come around a corner and here's Farmer John coming the other way with a tractor pulling a big ol' cultivator... Anyone see this one?

posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:28 PM on June 13, 2006

Like everything, if Lane Splitting is done cautiously and responsibly, and from everything I had read this morning, it can be safe. I see many a biker taking it slow and meandering cautiously through stopped traffic keeping a good distance between the cars and themselves. But for every two good bikers, I've probably seen a biker zipping through moving traffic, barely missing side mirrors. The initial point of the comment I had made in regards to lane splitting, etc was that for every asshole car driver on their cellphone or reading a fucking newspaper (you see a lot highway commuting everyday) there's an asshole biker being just as moronic and irresponsible and bikers are physically at a disadvantage already.

posted by jerseygirl at 01:31 PM on June 13, 2006

Who wins in a fight? Helmetless Big Ben with a truckload of anvils, or Mike Ditka with an armload of logs?

posted by YawkeyWay at 01:51 PM on June 13, 2006

Just horrible. I have had a good bit of time to think this over now. Obviously, whole city is distraught. But the fact of the matter is Ben does not owe me anything or anyone else on this site. He did nothing illegal and its not like he is popping wheelies in a parking lot (Winslow). If there is a clause in his contract (which i am sure is coming) and then he rides or rides without a helmet then get on him. Not when the man is in the freaken hospital.

posted by steelcityguy at 02:02 PM on June 13, 2006

One of my favorite pleasures in life is fresh toast during my bath. Are you saying I shouldn't keep my toaster close to the tub for easy access?

posted by chicobangs at 02:19 PM on June 13, 2006

If only we could incorporate a garbage disposal into the shower drain...

posted by jerseygirl at 02:40 PM on June 13, 2006

But, yeah I get your(and weedy's) point, if your taking an acceptable risk and then get injured I guess people have the right to call you an idiot. I'm not sure that was my point. I was trying to say that, except for the most neurotic of us, we're all running around in a thunderstorm waving a golf club. And it seems when one of us gets struck by lightning, the rest of us seem to feel comfortable calling that person an idiot. While I will defend to the death your right to call anyone an idiot for any reason (and duly suffer the consequences), I think it's a little hypocritical for any of us to call someone out when they get pinched for doing a stupid thing, since many of us are guilty of equivalent stupidity from time to time. Which, essentially, is reiterating your "acceptable risk" comment. I was agreeing with you. So, go ahead and install that shower toaster. I won't call you an idiot. I don't know what you have in your house, but my chairs are specifically labeled "No Standing." Also, the little packets in my shoebox say "Do Not Eat." If you hurt yourself from standing on a chair or eating a shoebox packet, then... and only then... are you an idiot.

posted by BullpenPro at 03:26 PM on June 13, 2006

What a dumbass. You wouldn't catch Donovan McNabb (I hope) doing that.

posted by GoBirds at 03:32 PM on June 13, 2006

Does anyone know how fast he was going.

posted by CB900 at 03:40 PM on June 13, 2006

As to jerseygirl, if that rock came off the dump truck that was big enough to crack your winshield, I can guarantee that the rider would still come crashing into the car. It is very difficult not to twist when something that big hits you, helmet or not. I was talking about a piece of gravel, not the Rock of Gibraltar. Rock of Gibraltar falling from the sky automatically wins that Rochambeau.

posted by jerseygirl at 03:53 PM on June 13, 2006

It happened to me to. I swerved out of the way to avoid the pig flying on the log and got hit by the rock instead.

posted by jerseygirl at 04:05 PM on June 13, 2006

There's lane splitting and then there's lane splitting. It's legal to lane split in California at speeds of 35 MPH or less, yet I often see bikers doing it when traffic is 80 MPH or more, and motorists least expect it. At those speeds, I can barely see a small object like a biker until he's roared by me, and I am the rule, not the exception.

posted by irunfromclones at 04:35 PM on June 13, 2006

Goo goo g' joob.

posted by jerseygirl at 05:26 PM on June 13, 2006

By the way, doctors say Ben's knees are fine. "No major structural damage to either of his knees." -Dr. Larry Jones. Meanwhile, short round says, "Hey Lady, you call him Doctor Jones."

posted by SummersEve at 06:45 PM on June 13, 2006

Meanwhile, short round says, "Hey Lady, you call him Doctor Jones." Nice.

posted by bperk at 06:55 PM on June 13, 2006

Tron7, that is a great point. How many people, when they're only going a couple of blocks to the grocery store, don't put their seat belts on? Those that drive any distance without putting on their seatbelts, beyond moving the car around in their garage, are idiots in my book.

posted by grum@work at 08:11 PM on June 13, 2006

Those that drive any distance without putting on their seatbelts, beyond moving the car around in their garage, are idiots in my book. One thing I realized quite recently in life is that I hardly ever put on a seatbelt when riding in a cab. Like somehow being in a cab didn't really count. Then one day I acknowledged that many cab drivers are awful drivers, sociopathically super aggressive and accidents waiting to happen. And that meeting up with that plexiglass divider when flying down the highway to the airport at 80 mph or even cruising around town in the low 40s would not be particularly pleasant. (To bring this back to sports talk, ask Tom Glavine about how that feels.) Now I try to buckle up every time in get in a cab.

posted by holden at 09:08 PM on June 13, 2006

I'm glad that Ben's o.k. (relatively speaking/typing) whether he plays in the NFL again or not--and I'm sure he will.

posted by curtangle at 10:40 PM on June 13, 2006

Okay, so what happens when I'm riding my Vincent Black Shadow down the highway and a roadrunner and a coyote with an ACME Rocket Pack strapped to him pass me on the wrong side of the road and cause me to wreck. Who's the idiot here, and who's the suuuuper genius?

posted by The_Black_Hand at 05:08 AM on June 14, 2006

Not having a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license doesn't add anything to the argument that he is an idiot. But it does suggest that he is irresponsible. And a lawbreaker.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:41 AM on June 14, 2006

It's about time for the "Dead Horse" sign to appear. Are you insinuating Barbaro should have been wearing a helmet too?

posted by SummersEve at 10:14 AM on June 14, 2006

Didn't even know about it (Barbaro) when I made the "Dead Horse" sign comment. I guess it would be a bit inappropriate at this particular point.

posted by dyams at 11:15 AM on June 14, 2006

Wow. That's sad news about Barbaro dying. I thought he was improving. I'm pretty sure Barbaro is still alive. There are no articles to suggest otherwise. The same can be said for this fellow.

posted by grum@work at 11:57 AM on June 14, 2006

Woah, bad joke not a rumor starter. Barbaro's just fine (for now). He's busy responding to all his well wishers, but otherwise fine.

posted by SummersEve at 12:10 PM on June 14, 2006

It's about time for the "Dead Horse" sign to appear.

posted by wingnut4life at 12:32 PM on June 14, 2006

That about sums it up. Can this thread stop before it hits 200? Seems this is number 200. Nail in Coffin!

posted by Folkways at 12:40 PM on June 14, 2006

I wanted to throw in random Simpsons quotes till we hit 200 but I crapped out on 199. I stink! Purple, monkey, dishwasher.

posted by HATER 187 at 01:06 PM on June 14, 2006

just for the record; what is the largest number of posts to one thread?

posted by elovrich at 01:26 PM on June 14, 2006

Hey if we start throwing around crap about Barry Bonds, T.O., and how male athletes are superior to female athletes we should hit 300 in no time.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:17 PM on June 14, 2006

What was this thread about again?

posted by wingnut4life at 06:14 PM on June 14, 2006

How can a thread start out about the choice to wear a helmet, then damn near turn into a Roe v. Wade riot. Even if Ben loses his football money, his Fathead endorsements should skyrocket with all the swelling and everything. Get well soon Ben.

posted by Bishop at 08:52 PM on June 14, 2006

A few things: a) I thought it was strange I hadn't heard (or read) about Barbaro dying. b) Thanks for the "Dead Horse" sign. That one gets me every time. c) The "Fathead" comment was great. Maybe Ben will branch out on his own and market "Swollenhead" or "Helmethead". d) I now totally accept threads over 200 posts, as long as by the 200 mark anyone looking at the latest entries will have a hard time picking out what the original story was about, and that these late posts contain decent, witty material. e)

posted by dyams at 07:51 AM on June 15, 2006

Sure, it eats with a fork - not a straw. Vroom.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:59 AM on June 15, 2006

"When you absolutely have to drink a steak -choose Oster." Apparently, his jaw isn't wired shut. I think as soon as he makes his remarks about helmets, the Steelers will wish it had been.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:52 PM on June 15, 2006

Why is Barbaro riding a motorbike without a helmet anyway? Shouldn't he just be resting his leg, he shouldn't be out horsing around this soon anyway.

posted by tommybiden at 11:55 PM on June 15, 2006

It's not the shifting that bothers the leg, it's the braking...

posted by irunfromclones at 05:43 PM on June 16, 2006

People are making such a big deal about wearing a helmet while riding on a Motorcycle. While everyday people are injured when they dont buckle their seat belts. People make stupid choices all of the time that can cause seriois injuries. I am not sticking up for big Ben, I just would like people to think about the big picture. We all know somebody who has been seriously injured when not wearing a seatbelt while driving.

posted by daddisamm at 06:50 AM on June 18, 2006